Folding bed



No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 15 M. J. HAPGAR.

FOLDING BED- Patented Apr. 4, 18.93,

(No ModeL) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

M. J.-HAFGAR.

FOLDING BED. No. 494,563. Patented Apr. 4, 1893..

. x 6 i fi$ as Q g UNHED TATES PATENT OFFrcE.

MAGNUS J. HAFGAR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,563, dated April 4,1893.

T0 and whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAGNUS J. HAFGAR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,

which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to folding beds, and consists principally in theconstruction of the case or standard in such manner that a portion ofthe same is vertically movable and is pivotally connected with the bedframe in such manner as to serve the purpose of a counterweight; and ina peculiar form of hinge used in-connecting the bed frame with thestandard; and in certain minor details of construction as hereinafterfully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bed,open, a portion being broken away to show the hinge. Fig. 2 is a rearelevation of the bed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on theline 3, 3, of Fig. 2, the bed being closed. Fig. 4 is the same View, thebed being open. Fig. 5 is a detail of the hinge. Fig. 6 is a detail of aportion of the front of the bed when closed; and Fig. 7 is a sectionaldetail on the line 8, 8, of Fig. 6.

The bed consists of three major parts, the fixed standard A, avertically movable case B, which serves the purpose of a counterweight,and the swinging frame C.

The standard A, is rectangular in form, and necessarily of sufficientstrength to support the movable portions. The rear corner posts, (t, a,of the standard project upwardly to serve as guides for the case B. Themain portion of the standard is but slightly higher than the top of theside rails of the frame C. At a, a are shown, respectively, an upper andlower cross bar at the rear of the standard A.

The casing 13, is a rectangulanvertical frame the lower end of whichfits within the standard A, and when the bed is closed, the transversecleats b, on the sides of the casing B,

Application filed September 5, 1892. Serial No. 445,111. (No model.)

rest upon the top of the side of the standard A. These cleats are madein the form of ornamental molding. The back of the case, b, is of lightboards or it may be left open, if desired, cross-bars being used tosecure the necessary rigidity. At 5 is shown a backwardly projectingcross-bar substantially on the level with the cleat b. Extendingupwardly from the cross-bar b are two blocks b fixed to the back I), ofthe case and near its sides. A bar 19 is mounted upon the blocks b andshould it be found necessary to use any additional counter-weight as itmay be fixed to the bar o The bed frame C, is of the usual rectangularform. The hinges by which the frame is secured to the standard A,comprise the slotted plates D, fixed to the side rails of the frame, andthe pintle plate E, fixed to the inner sides of the ends of thestandard. The plate D, is provided with a curved slot d, on the arc of acircle whose center is near the outer lower corner of the plate, and astraight slot d, on the line of an extended radius of this circle, theend of the slot d, adjacent to the slot d, being midway of the ends ofthe latter. The length of the slot at, is one-half that of. the slot d.

The plateE, is provided with two inwardly projecting pintles e, e, inhorizontal alignment adapted to engage in the slots at, d, the distancebetween the pintles being such that when one is at either end of tlfeslot d, the other is at the inner end of the slot d. The relativeposition of the slots is such that when the pintle e, is at the middleof the slot d,pintle e, is at the outer end of the slot d. When the bedis closed, the pintle e, is at the lower end of the slot (1, and when itis open, this pintle is at the upper end of said slot. Rigid links F,are pivotally attached to the lower or head end of the side rails of theframe C, and are intended to project upwardly and engage pintles f, setin the sides of the case B. For this purpose the upper ends of the linksF, are forked. When the frame C, is lowered,

its pivotal point being somewhat removed from its head rail, the linksare elevated, thereby lifting the case B. The case B, is maintained inits upright position by means of the guide plates b fixed upon therearward edge of its sides and overlapping the ICC posts a, ct. Lateralmovement is prevented by the engagement of the side of the case withsaid posts. The bifurcation of the upper ends of the links F, is of suchextent that when the bed-frame is vertical the position of the pinf, isabove the inner end of the slot. By this construction the elevation ofthe case B, does not commence until the bed-frame G, has moved aconsiderable distance from the perpendicular and consequently theextreme elevation of the case is not so great as it would otherwise be.This construction is made possible by the use of the peculiar form ofhinge described as the movement of the hinge D, upon the pintle e,shifts the center upon which the bed-frame turns so that the centerofgravity is substantially over it until the movement has extended throughseveral degrees from the perpendicular. The depth of the slot in thelink F, should be such that as soon as the bed-frame has passed thelimit at which it balances, the case comes into action as acounterweight. A board G, is hinged to the head rail of the frame C, soas to project upwardly. A bar g,is pivotally attached to the upper edgeof the board G, and projects upwardly through aperture in the cross-barb and between the cross-bar b and the back I) of the case, and serves tomaintain the board G, in an upright position, so that when the frame 0,is elevated it falls against this board. The function of the board is tohold the bed clothing in place when the bed is closed, and to close thespace above the head of the frame when the bed is open. Horizontallyswinging cleats H, are hinged to the front edges of the end of thestandard A, for the purpose of covering the hinge plates, and giving thecorners a proper finish. These cleats are made of sufficient width toslightly overlap the frame G, and are hinged so as to swing outwardlywhen the frame is lowered. The upper ends of the cleats H, arechamfered, and chamfered blocks h, are fixed upon the front of the frameso as to engage them and prevent them from opening when the bed isclosed. The frame is provided with two legs I, located respectively atits upper or outer corners and adapted to slide in when the bed isclosed, a metal loop L, being placed upon the inner side of the rail ofthe frame 0, to guide the leg, and the latter being provided at itsupper end with a slight projection or pin 5, to strike against the loopL, and prevent the leg from falling out of place. Each of the legs isprovided with a pivoted latch or dog K, its free end being toward theupper end of the leg, the dog being adapted, when the leg is in avertical position to swing outwardly by its own weight so as to engageunder the lower side of the loop L, and lock the leg in its withdrawnposition. When the frame (3, is raised, the dog K, falls inwardly so asto disengage the loop L, and allow the leg to be pushed in.

The bed may be made in imitation of many articles of furniture, such asa wardrobe, ts front being, if desired, provided with a mirror. Theheight and position of the case B, are such that when the bed is closedthe outer end of the frame 0, and the top of thecase B, are of the sameheight, as shown 1n Fig. 3.

By the use of a movable case in lieu of the counter-weight, the bed maybe made very much lighter than when a count-er-welght 1s depended uponto balance the swinging frame. In moving the bed, the three major partsmay be readily separated. There is nothing to prevent the case B, frombeing lifted out of its position and the frame 0, is readily disengagedfrom the standard A, by removing the screws 6 which secure the hingedplates E, to the standard.

I claim 1. In a folding bed the combination with a stationary standardof a case adapted to slide vertically in the standard, a verticallyswinging bed frame, mechanical connection between the moving case andthe bed frame whereby the one counterbalances the other, and hinges forthe bed frame comprising slotted plates fixed to the sides of the bedframe and pintles fixed to the sides of the stationary standard forengaging the slots, one of said slots being curved to describe the arcof a circle and the other being straight and located without and radialto the circle, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a folding bed the combination with a stationary standard and witha vertically swinging bed-frame hinged within the standard of verticalcleats hinged to the forward edges of the standard sides and adapted tocover the cracks or joints between the bed frame and the standard sides,said cleats having their upper ends chamfered or beveled outwardly, andblocks on the bed-frame having correspondingly beveled faces and adaptedto engage the cleats and close them when the bed is closed,substantially as as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAGNUS J. IIAFGAR. lVitnesses:

L. K. GILsON, J. H. DORIAN.

